Policy Number: D5.0

Policy Name: GRADES

 

A. STATEMENT OF STANDARD

At the commencement of the course, and as appropriate throughout the course, it is the faculty member's responsibility to:

  1. Define and communicate the criteria for evaluation of students.
  2. State the process for converting the professor's evaluation criteria to the RIT grading system.

B. DEFINITION

  1. For each credit hour earned the following number of quality points will be awarded based upon the grade received, and will be calculated in the student’s grade point average:
  1. There are eight other viable evaluations of a course that do not affect GPA calculations. Only “I”, “R” and “S” can be assigned (as described below) by individual faculty members at the completion of the course:

    1. __ Blank - the grade has not yet been assigned or no grade is expected.

    2. R- Registered - a permanent grade indicating that a student has registered for a given course but has yet to meet the total requirements for the course or has continuing requirements to be met. “R” is the grade given in graduate thesis work. Completion of this work will be noted by having the approved/accepted thesis or dissertation title, as received by the registrar from the department, added to the student's permanent record. Full tuition is charged for these courses. "R" graded courses are allowed in the calculation of the residency requirement for graduate programs; however, they do not affect GPA calculations.

    3. I - Incomplete - a temporary notation (not a grade) given where the professor observes conditions beyond the control of a student such that the student is unable to complete course requirements in the given term. The instructor determines and advises the student of the due date, not to exceed 180 calendar days, by which the student must complete course requirements. If the registrar has not received a "change of grade" form from the professor after 180 calendar days, then the Incomplete becomes an "F" grade. An extension of time may be granted at the discretion of the instructor. Credit hours are not earned and the GPA is not affected until a permanent grade is assigned.

      If there are extenuating circumstances which render an instructor unable to assign a grade, or evaluate a student's work and assign a grade to replace an "Incomplete" notation, the head of the department in which the course was taught will select an instructor to act in the place of the original instructor. After appropriate evaluation of the student's work, that instructor will assign a grade in place of the "Incomplete" notation.

    4. W - Class dropped with grade of “W” - a grade that indicates that a course was dropped after the add/drop period and a grade of “W” was assigned. Students are strongly advised to consult with their academic advisor and instructor before they drop any courses. A student may not use the Drop with grade of “W” option to avoid charges of academic dishonesty, or after the instructor has officially submitted the final grade.

      Prior to the end of the eighth week of a quarter, a "W" will be assigned upon the student's online request. In processing the request, the student, course instructor, advisor and the home program or department head will be notified via email.

      After the eighth week and up to the end of the tenth week of the term, a "W" will be assigned only with the approval and written signatures of the student, course instructor, the home program or department head, and the dean from the student's home college.

      In unusual situations, a "W" may be granted after the end of the tenth week. Such an extraordinary request is administered through the provost's office, in consultation with (if possible) the student, course instructor, home program or department head, and dean from the student's home college. While a "W" will appear on the student's transcript, it carries no credit and does not affect GPA.

      When a student chooses to drop a course with a grade of “W”, full tuition is charged. Courses with a "W" assigned do not count toward the residency requirement.

    5. AU - Audit - indicates a student has officially registered for the course with no credit. Courses available for audit are at the discretion of the college. With permission of the instructor, the student may elect to take examinations and do course assignments. Audited courses do not count toward the residency or other degree requirements. Credit hours are not earned and GPA calculations are not affected.

      A student may register for audit any time during the official registration period for the quarter. However, a student may not change from audit to credit or credit to audit after the official add/drop period (first six days of each quarter). Changes from audit to credit must be accompanied by full payment of tuition.

      Degree-seeking students registering for 12 or more hours (excluding audit courses) may take any additional hours for audit at no incremental charge provided the total hours do not exceed 18 credits.

      Students registering for less than 12 hours, excluding audit courses, may take any additional hours for audit at a charge of one-half the normally assessed tuition rate.

    6. S - Satisfactory may apply only to acceptable completion of cooperative work experience, internships, wellness courses, courses bearing course numbers of 099 or below, and study abroad courses offered by affiliated programs. With the exception of study abroad, such courses do not count toward residency requirements, earn credit hours or affect grade point average calculations. In the case of study abroad courses, credits covered by the "S" grade will count toward residency requirements and will earn credit hours. The "S" grade will not affect grade point average.

    7. X - Credit by Examination - assigned for successful completion of various external or university examinations, provided such examinations cover or parallel the objectives and content of the indicated course. Credit must be assigned in advance of any credit received through registration for the indicated course. (In order to raise a grade or to remove a failure, the course must be repeated.) "X" graded courses do not count toward the residency requirement and do not affect GPA calculations. Credit hours are included as hours earned. A maximum of 12 quarter credit hours is allowed for graduate programs.. Exceptions to the maximum credit by exam for graduate programs can be granted by the Graduate Council in unusual circumstances upon appeal from the dean of the college involved.

    8. WV - Waived courses - those courses eliminated from the list of requirements that a student must take to graduate. For undergraduate students, only physical education courses and cooperative work experience may be waived because of previously completed experience. For graduate students, required courses may be waived because of previously completed academic work, but in no case shall the resulting graduate program requirements be reduced below 45 quarter credit hours. In addition, waiver credit for graduate courses can be applied only towards required courses and not towards elective courses. The process of waiving courses and thereby reducing graduate program requirements is not to be confused with the process of substituting specific courses for published requirements with an equal number of credit hours, thus retaining the total number of credit hours in the specified program.

  2. Changing Grades - once a grade has been officially reported by a faculty member it is normally not the right of any person to change this grade unless an actual error has been made in computing or recording it. If an error has been made, the faculty member must complete the change of grade/extension of incomplete form and the completed form must be approved by the head of the department in which the faculty member teaches. When approved by both of these individuals, the form is to be forwarded to the registrar. There is, however, an appeal procedure for disputed grades through the Academic Conduct Committee of the college in which the course was offered, with final appeal to the Institute Appeals Board. In both of these appeals, the faculty member who assigned the original grade has the final decision on any change of grade except as noted below.

    If there are extenuating circumstances which render an instructor unable to assume his or her responsibilities, or is unavailable to participate in appeal procedures about grades, the head of the department where the course was taught will select a faculty member to represent the deceased or otherwise unavailable faculty member in such appeal procedures.

    In extraordinary circumstances and at his or her discretion, the provost may, without violating the student's right to confidentiality, after consultation with the instructor and the dean of the college in which the course was taken, settle special cases of an appeal of an assigned grade by administratively removing a student's name from an official course roster and removing the student's assigned grade from the student's official transcript. The provost will inform the faculty member of this action and, if giving such information does not violate the student's right to confidentiality, explain the reason for it. The registrar will annually inform the Academic Senate of the number of such administrative actions in the course of the year.

  3. Repeating Courses to Raise Low Grades - An undergraduate student may repeat a course to raise a grade. If a student repeats a course, the last grade will stand as final even if the last grade earned is lower than the grade previously earned. Courses taken at other institutions cannot be considered as repeats. Credit earned by examination/experience cannot be used to repeat previous course work. This process only applies to undergraduate coursework.

    For graduate students, the grades of all courses attempted will count in calculating the program cumulative grade point average. This program cumulative grade point average must average at least 3.00 ("B" average) as a graduation requirement. The dean of the college or his or her designee must approve all applications for graduate courses a student wishes to take a second time.
C. GRADE POINT AVERAGE

There will be two methods of grade point average calculation for undergraduate and graduate students, and a third method for undergraduates only:

1. University-Quarterly, Yearly and Cumulative

2. Program-Quarterly, Yearly and Cumulative

3. Undergraduate Principal Field of Study (See E.1.a. below for description)

Note: Neither Program GPA’s nor Principal Field of Study GPA’s will be reported to departments. Calculation of each of these GPA’s can be manually calculated by the student’s home department.

University averages will reflect all RIT course work completed at or above the 100 course number level with a grade of A, B, C, D, or F.

Program averages reflect course work completed at RIT applicable to graduation in the student's current academic program. The current academic program refers to the university and college degree course requirements specified by the degree granting college and noted in the university catalog in force at the time the student was accepted into the program. The program GPA will be used as a criterion for graduation and graduation with honors. The program quarterly GPA will be used to place students on dean's and probation lists.

The quarterly grade point average (with the above noted differences between university and program GPA's) reflects a single quarter of academic activity. The calculation will be carried out to three decimal places.

The yearly grade point average (with the above noted differences between university and program GPA's) reflects the student's academic activity for a year ending with the spring quarter (inclusive of the previous summer's work). The primary purpose is to facilitate consideration of part-time students for the dean's list at the end of the spring quarter. The rounding would be done in the same manner as the quarterly GPA.

The cumulative grade point average (with the above noted differences between university and program GPA's) reflects the sum total of course work completed at RIT (or in the specific program) and will be updated each quarter the student is in attendance.

The cumulative GPA will be used in determining graduation honors and will be considered part of the graduation requirements. The cumulative GPA will be carried to three decimal points.

For undergraduates, in the case of a repeated or excluded course, the student's permanent academic record will show a notation indicating the course has been repeated or excluded from both GPA calculations. The notation will not affect previously posted academic actions (such as probation or suspension).

A student who completes undergraduate studies at the university and then engages in graduate study will begin a new graduate cumulative GPA when re-classified as a graduate student.

D. DEAN'S LIST

By action of the college concerned, degree-seeking undergraduate students will be placed on the dean's list if their program quarterly GPA is at greater than or equal to 3.400 ; they do not have any grades of "Incomplete”, “D” or "F”, (including wellness, and any other non-credit but required courses); they have registered for, and completed, at least 12 credit hours; and they are not on probation due to a low cumulative grade point average in their principal field of study.

Degree-seeking undergraduate students who are primarily part-time may qualify for the spring quarter dean's list if in the preceding three quarters they have taken 18 hours of credit with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.400 or higher. This is accomplished without grades of "Incomplete," “D” or "F" and without being placed on probation due to a low cumulative grade point average in the principal field of study.

E. ACADEMIC PROBATION AND SUSPENSION POLICY

  1. Undergraduate Policy

Degree-seeking undergraduate students will be placed on probation or suspended from the university according to the criteria enumerated below. All actions are taken at the end of the term; however, a student may petition the dean of the college for reconsideration of probation or suspension should removal of an incomplete grade (I) raise the grade point average above those stated below. Each degree-seeking undergraduate student will generate three different grade point averages. The university average reflects all course work completed at RIT. The program average reflects course work completed at RIT applicable to graduation in a student's current academic program. The current academic program refers to university and college degree course requirements specified by the degree granting college and noted in the university catalog. The third average, in the Principal Field of Study, GPA reflects course work completed in a student's specialized field of study.

  1. Any degree-seeking undergraduate student whose program quarterly grade point average (see C. above) falls below a 2.00 (C average) or whose grade point average in the principal field of study (based upon at least 20 credit hours attempted in the principal field at RIT) falls below 2.00 will be placed on probation. The principal field of study is for undergraduate students only and is generally defined to be all courses within the college offering the program.

  2. Any student who is on probation according to 1.a. above and who is not removed from probation in the two succeeding terms in which credit is attempted will be suspended from RIT for a period of not less than one quarter.

  3. Any student who has been placed on probation after having been removed from probation and whose program cumulative grade point average is below 2.000 will be suspended. Any student who has been placed on probation after having been removed from probation and whose program cumulative grade point average is 2.000 or above will be granted one quarter to be removed from probation before suspension from RIT.

  4. Any student whose program quarterly grade point average falls below 1.000 will be suspended from RIT for a period of not less than one term.

  5. Students who have been readmitted to their original program after having been suspended and then go on probation will be suspended from RIT.

  6. A suspended student cannot enroll in any credit or non-credit course at the university while on suspension.

    The suspension may be waived or the student may be admitted to another program if it is approved by the dean (or their designee) of the college in which enrollment is requested. For programs housed outside the college structure, the approval of the director of the academic program in which the enrollment is requested is required.

  7. Students must apply through undergraduate admissions for re-admission at the end of their suspension. Such re-admission must be approved by the dean (or their designee) of the college for which they are requesting enrollment (this may be the original college or another). For programs housed outside the college structure, the re-admission must be approved by the director of the academic program for which they are requesting enrollment.
  1. Graduate Policy

Degree-seeking graduate students will be placed on probation or suspended from the university according to the criteria enumerated below. All actions are taken at the end of the term; however, a student may petition the dean of the college or the director of the Golisano Institute for Sustainability for reconsideration of probation or suspension should the removal of an incomplete grade (I) raise the program grade point average above those stated below. Each degree-seeking graduate student will generate two different grade point averages. The university average reflects all course work completed at RIT. The program average reflects course work completed at RIT applicable to graduation in a student's current academic program. The current academic program refers to the university and college degree course requirements specified by the degree granting college and noted in the graduate catalog.

  1. Any degree-seeking graduate student whose program grade point average (see C. above) falls below a 3.000 after 12 quarter credit hours or subsequently will be placed on probation and counseled by the graduate program director (or their designee) concerning continuation in the graduate program.

  2. Students placed on probation who fail to raise their program cumulative grade point average to 3.000 within 12 quarter credit hours will be suspended from the graduate program.

  3. Should it be necessary to suspend a graduate student for academic reasons, the student must apply for readmission through graduate admissions.
  1. Non-Degree-Seeking Undergraduate and Graduate Policy

Any non-degree-seeking undergraduate student who has a cumulative GPA below 2.000 or non-degree-seeking graduate student who has a cumulative GPA below 3.000 after 20 credit hours may not register for credit or non-credit courses without the specific approval of the department head offering the course(s).

F. GRADUATION WITH HONORS

Degree honors are applicable to undergraduate students only.

Honors posted to the academic record will be based upon the student's cumulative grade point average upon completion of the degree requirements. The registrar will post honors to the student's academic record and they will be reflected on the official transcript. The numerical criteria for graduation with honors are as follows.

Highest Honors - 3.800 cumulative GPA

High Honors - 3.600 cumulative GPA

Honors - 3.400 cumulative GPA

Honors reported for inclusion in the Commencement Book must be based on a minimum of 45 quarter credit hours earned (see residency requirement for graduation in Policy D12.0), and the student’s cumulative GPA. In addition, the Commencement Book will only reflect honors earned by the end of the winter term.

The dean (or department head, for any degree granting programs outside the college structure) may, in extraordinary circumstances, act to grant graduation with honors to students who do not meet all the criteria listed. A copy of the notice of exception, with reason, is to be sent to the registrar to become part of the student's academic record.

G. OUTSTANDING UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLAR AWARD

One of the traditional concerns of colleges and universities is with the definition and recognition of excellence. The Outstanding Undergraduate Scholar Award has been established to recognize excellence in academic achievement by students. Those selected to receive the award are designated RIT Scholars and the achievement is recognized through a specially designed award symbolic of high academic achievement. The awards are presented at a special convocation held prior to the end of each academic year.

The procedure for the selection of award winners is:

  1. Maximum number of students eligible

    1. The maximum number of recipients of the award in any year will not exceed 1 percent of the full-time equivalent enrollment of each college in the preceding fall quarter.

    2. It is the intent of this policy that each college will be permitted to nominate at least one student for the award although the college may choose not to do so.

    3. It is the intent of this policy that transfer students and part-time students will be eligible to receive the award.

    4. It is the intent of the policy that generally the award be limited to those registered at RIT during the fall quarter. However, students identified by a college as not currently enrolled, but who are actively pursuing completion of degree requirements, can be added to the list of candidates.

  2. Minimum University Requirements

    1. Must have completed 125 quarter credit hours of work, including any acceptable transfer credit. Transfer students being considered for the award should also have completed at least 125 quarter credit hours of study, of which not less than 45 hours should be in RIT courses.

    2. Must have a university GPA of 3.85 for all work completed at the university.

    3. Transfer students meeting requirement b. must also have a cumulative average of 3.85 for all college work attempted, regardless of whether or not transfer credit was granted by RIT. For previous college work not graded on a four point scale, a judgment should be made as to whether the cumulative average for all college work is equivalent to 3.85.

  3. Selection Process

    4. A committee as specified below will be responsible for selecting the recipients of the award in each college.

    1. In making its decision, the committee will give careful attention to the academic achievements and activities of the student and to factors that in the judgment of the committee are closely related to such academic achievements and activities. Examples might include, but would not be limited to, the following: creative work, employment, student committees, civic activities, independent research projects.

      The committee is free to call upon other persons from the faculty, staff or student body for help in reaching a decision.

      On the basis of these deliberations the committee will choose, or will decide not to choose one or more recipients of the award, but the number is not to exceed 1 percent of the college F.T.E. enrollment of the previous fall quarter.

    2. Names of students chosen to receive the award must be accompanied by:


      • a brief biography and resume of the student;

      • a statement from the selection committee giving reasons for its choice of the students;

      • statements from at least one non-major faculty member in support of making the award to that student.
    1. The names of award winners must be forwarded to the provost by the third Monday in November.

  4. Selection Committee

The dean of each college (or the director for any program that falls outside the college structure that grants undergraduate degrees) will appoint a committee of faculty not to exceed five members, including the dean or designee, from that college. The committee will in turn invite a person from outside the college to serve on the committee.

Responsible Office: Office of the Provost and the Academic Senate. Inquiries can be directed to:

Academic Senate: Staff Assistant
2106 Eastman Hall
asenate@rit.edu
(585)475-2016

Office of the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs:
Assistant Vice President
2109 Eastman Hall
stp1031@rit.edu
(585)475-5572

Effective Date: Approved October 1956

Policy History:
Revised May 10, 2007
Edited August 2010
Revision for Academic Year 2-12-2013 approved May 3, 2012